Cam block for knitting machines



July 12, 1938. LAWSON 51- A 2,123,534

CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 By 5,2, 7M 9 A TTy.

y 2, 1938. R. H. L wsoN'Er AL 2,123,534

CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 19:55 .7 Sheets-Shet 2 MLLMMLSNZZHJE, By 62, 5 7W y 1938- R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,123,534 7 CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES,

Filed Aug. 3, 19:55 7 Sheets-Sheet s Rwa'eTfMAM Jwg n? MLZZMLSMZZZIJR,

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y 1938. R. H. LAWSON El Al. 23, 34

CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES- Filed Aug. 5, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hf/LL/AMLSMJHJR,

0L7 JrTj I I July 12, 1938.

H. LAWSON ET AL CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Au 3, i935 F1020, FIG.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 MLLMMLJ'MHJ/Jig;

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July 12, 1938. 2,123,534

R. H. LAWSON E1" AL CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, l935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 MLLJAML. 529175.723

J y 1938. R. H. LAWSON El AL 2,123,534

CAM BLOCK FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet? 50355715! [II/1650A; WILLIAM L SHIT/7:71P,

' Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED" STATES 2,123,534 v CAM mJocrr FOR KNITTING mcnmss Robert H. lemon and William L. Smith, Jr.,

Pawtucket, R. 1., assignors to Hemphlll Gom- Pany, Central Falls, Massachusetts 11;, a corporation of Application August 3, 1935, Serial No. 34,579 4 In Canada August 9, 1934 v This invention relates to cam blocks for hitting machines and more especially for multi-feed knitting machines. This case is a continuation in part of U. S. application Ser. No. 706,082, filed January 10, 1934, now Patent No. 2,067,877.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the outer aid of a cam block according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the vertical center line of Fig. 1', certain parts being .cut away for purposes of clearness;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing one side of the mechanism shown in Fig. l-; 1 Fig. 5 is an elevation of the cam block showing the inner side, the needle and jack cams mounted thereon;

Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 5 and showing the jack cams and their adjusting mech- 20 anism;

Fig. '7 is an elevation showing one side of these same cams;

Fig. 8 is a sectional viewshowing part of the knitting machine frame and a plurality of cam 25 blocks arranged thereon;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the sinker cam assembly; I

Fig. 10 is a similar view, the cam retaining plate being removed;

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the cam block showing the sinker cams in place but having the needle and jack cams removed;

Fig. 12 is an elevation 01 the mechanism shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a modified form 35 of sinker presser cam;

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing the relative positions of the sinker cams;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the center line of one of the cam blocks;

40 Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken through one of the sinker presser cams between adjacent cam blocks;

Fig. 17 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a cam block which is a modification of that 5'shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along the vertical center line of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X, Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is an elevation showing the inner side of this modified form of cam block;

Fig. 22 is a plan view showing the modified 5 form 0! jack cam;

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the cam shown in Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a modified form of sinker cam and sinker pressing cam;

Fig. 25 is an elevation of this modified sinker 5 cam shown in position on its cam block;

Fig. 26-ls an elevation showing in detail the spring control for the pressing cam, this view showing only the part of the assembly above the reference line H in Fig. 24; I I

Fig. 27 is a detail view of the sinker cam adjusting screw and partof its bracket; and v Fig. 28 is a detail of the sinker pressing cam and the arm upon which it is mounted.

The cam block with cams shown in Figs. 1- through 16 is particularly adapted for use in multi=feed knitting machines of the rotary needle cylinder type but it is not; necessarily so limited and maybe used with machines of the rotating cam type if so desired. The cams shown in these 20 figures are adapted to control needles which have been selected to knit or to tuck or to produce other fancy stitches in accordance with the mechanism disclosed in application 706,082 above mentioned. In one embodiment of that case 25 needles which were to knit were controlled by needle cams only, whereas, needleswhich were not to knit or which were to fail to cast off but at the same time to take yarn intheir hooks, were controlled by jacks adapted to pull said 30 needles downwardly either below the yarn taking position or the cast off position as the case may I be.

Reien'ing to Figs. 1-5 mechanism is shown for very accurately adjusting the needle controlling cams, said adjustment being possible ina vertical plane only, whereby the stitch length may be varied either for purposes of knitting tighter or looser fabric or for adjusting certain cams about 7 the'entlre machine to knit a definite length stitch 40 in accordance with that being produced on one of the cam blocks which has been taken as a standard. The mechanism consists of an upright post I which has projecting feet as shown at 2 with drilled holes therein for the purpose of attaching the block to the machine frame by means of bolts or the like. On the side facing the needle cylinder, post I has a boss forming two projecting flanges 3 and 4 between which is machined a groove indicated at 5. Two plates 6 and I are attached by screws to the flanges 3 and I of groove 5 forming a suitable slide within which a cross-head 8 which carries needle cams 3 and I0 is adapted to slide. A needle raise cam il having an angular projection I2 is attached maintaining said stem and cam from rotatin within slot l4 a plate I! is attached by means of suitable screws to the flattened outer side or stem l6 and bears on the corresponding fiat surface of the extension i3. A vertical groove is cut in the outer side of plate i1 and an angular piece i8 having a slot cut vertically thereof isattached by a screw to plate I! but is free to be adjusted vertically as restricted by the groovein-said plate and the length of slot in the angular piece itself. A pin i9 projects upwardly from element It and acts in cooperation with the upper, horizontal, reduced end of sliding piece l8 to loclrthe cam i5 in or out of position. Referring to Fig. 2 wherein cam I5 is shown in advanced or operative position, element I3 is in front of pin i9 so that the cam is locked in its place. The operator has only to slide angular piece i8 upwardly until it clears the top of pin l9 and then to push cam l5 and its slide I6 outwardly until l8 drops onto the other side of pin |9 whereupon said cam will be locked in-inoperative position.

The cross-head 8 which carries cams 9 and I9 is vertically slidable in the guideway formed by groove 5 and plates 6 and I by means of small knurled wheels 20 and 2|. As shown in Fig. 3, post I has been bored out to accommodate a spindle 22 of which knurled wheel 2| forms an integral part. This spindle 22 has a groove 23 therein which is engaged by the end 24 of a screw 25 which passes through one side of said post for the purpose of holding spindle 22 in a fixed axial position. Spindle 22 has a hole drilled parallel to the axis thereof but eccentric to the same, within which is mounted for rotation a small spindle 26 which is turned .down at its outer end to form an extension 21, the small knurled wheel 20 being fixed to this extension by a taper pin 26. Spindle 26 has an enlarged portion 29 at its opposite end" which engages within a hole in cross-head 8. This portion 29 is slightly ec-' centric to the spindle itself and it may be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3that by turning knurled wheel 2| the cross-head and its attached cams will be moved throughout a considerable height while an adjustment by means of knurled wheel 20 results in only a slight motion vertically of the cross-head and cams. The first of these adjustments is used to obtain a reasonable close positioning of cams and the second is used to make the final adjustment which must be extremely accurate.

A collar 39 being split at 3| has two projecting ears 32, 33 through which a screw 34 passes and by means otwhich the collar is to be clamped about spindle 22. This collar has a projecting lug 35 at its opposite side which engages within a slot formed by an angular member 36 attached to the end of slide i" by means of a set screw 31, and a second angular member 38 attached to the fixed element 36. The engagement of lug 35 between the co-acting ends of elements 36, 33 serves to keep the collar from rotating, further, when clamped about spindle 22 no motion of the same will be possible thus cams 9 and I0 will be held in a fixed position. A pointer 39 is attached to lug 35 and projects outwardly and along the sur-.

graduations are merely used to secure a preliminary adjustment of the stitch length when setting the machine.

Another collar 49 has ears 4| and 42, on either side of -a split therein and a screw 43 passing through car 42 and threaded within ear 4| serves to clamp the collar about the hub of knurled wheel 20. This collar has a projection at the other side thereon which is'slotted as shown at 44 and engages a pin 45 projecting outwardly from a post i This projection also has a pointer 46 attached thereto which cooperates with knurled wheel 20 in the same way that pointer 39 cooperated with graduations upon the other wheel 2 I. In operation both collars are loosened about their respective spindles and an initial adjustment is made by means of turning wheel 2|, then collar 3|! may be tightened about its spindle to lock the same whereupon a final adjustment may be made by means of wheel 29, and then that wheel and its spindle are to be locked by means of collar 49. For adjustments to be made after the machine has been in operation it is likely that wheel 20 alone will suffice. These adjustments may be madein cooperation with indications of stitch length of any desired nature, but

preferably are to be made as a result of indica:

tions such as produced by the visual means shown in the case which has been mentioned above.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 we have shown cams which control the jacks for operating sinkers to meas-- jecting angular portion 54 of bracket 66 by means of screws 66 and spacing member 61. The stem 6| is slotted as shown at 56- and 69 so that it may slide transversely of the element 54 throughout a small extent. Plate 63 cooperates with stem 5| and ledge 62 to maintain them and attached cams 41 and 46 in fixed position radially oi the machine but me. manner which allows for adjustment circumferentially of the machine. Element 54 forms an integral extension of 56, and 60 indicates an extension of 55 which has been enlarged and especially shaped for the purpose of.

mounting the sinker cam set. Screws 6| pass through post I. and are threaded within element 1 55 for the purpose 'of maintaining these members as a unit. At either side of extension 64 we have secured angular pieces 62 and 63. In the vertical extension of these angular pieces, set screws 64 and 66 are threaded for the purpose of adiusting stern 5|, cam 41 and cam 46 transversely of the post or circumferentially of the machine. The purpose of this adjustment is to vary the time at which sinkers will be actuated by their jacks so that needles and sinkers will cooperate properly in drawing stitches. Jack earns 41. and 49 would have to be accurately positioned when the machine was assembled but probably would not have to be adjusted at any time thereafter since stitch length is controlled entirely by means of v the needle cam adjustment previously described. I

In Fig. 8 we have shown a portion of the machine frame or base indicated at 66 and a series clamping screws or bolts 16 bear within suitable of posts are shown in position on this base, spacer members 61 being mounted between the base 66 and the feet 2.0! the cam blocks which form the subject matteiii of this case. 7 From this view one may see the efiicient and compacted manner in which the cam block has been constructed, it being possible as a result of this, to arrange an unusually large number of cams about the circumference of a needle cylinder.

Referring to Figs. 9-12 and 15 we will describe the sinker cam assembly which mounts upon the cam block to complete the unit which is adapted to draw stitches at one feed of our multi-feed knitting machine. An angular bracket having a downwardly projecting part 69 and a horizontally extending projection 69 is fastened by means of suitable bolts or screws to a part of the block previously indicated by numeral 60. A plate 10 is attached by means of screws "II to the bracket 69 and the assembly is maintained in proper vertical adjust'ment'by means 'of adjusting screws 12 and 13. When these screws have been adjusted to maintain the cam assembly at its proper height the one designated at I2 is locked in position by means of set screw I4 while the one designated at 13 is locked by means of its set screw I5. The vertical adjustment is possible since the for a stem 18 which has a T-shaped .head I9 for mounting the sinker projecting cam 00. This head I9 has slots cut therein indicated'at 8I and 82 and screws passing therethrough serve to permanently attach cam 80 to the head. If it is desired to adjust cam 80 circumferentlally of the nachine the screws passing through slots BI, 82 He loosened and the cam may be moved along 2he direction of the slots until proper adjustment .s maintained whereupon said screws are tightened. Plate 10 has two holes 83 cut therein through which it is possible toreach these cam adjusting screws for purposes of making an adjustment when the machine is assembled.

Cam 80 is held in its innermost position according to an adjustment provided by an adjusting screw by means of 'a spring 85 attached to a pin 86 fixed to plate I0 and also to a-pin 81 attached to stem 18. By turning a suitable thumb piece on screw 84 the machine operator may adjust the cam 80 to its proper radial position, a screw 88providing for locking this adjustment once it has been made. Stem 18 has cams 80 and BI. The needle cylinder is shown at V a projection 09 which is split as shown-at 80,

the screw 88 passing through the upper section and being threaded in the lower'section for the purpose of clamping adjusting screw 84. The tension of spring 85 is sufliclent to hold cam 00 inward to project the sinkers inwardly to a proper distance but in case any improper action of the sinkers should occur, cam may be forced outwardly against the tension of spring thereby providing a safeguard against the breakage of the sinker butts and possibly other parts of, the machine.

A sinker retracting cam 9| is permanently attached by means of screws 92 to the plate 10. In Figs. 14 and 15 the relative arrangement of these cams about the needlecircle is shown and especially in Fig. 15 we have shown the manner in which a sinker butt '93 cooperates with sinker 94 and a needle 95 is shown in a trick therein, a

sinker operating jack 96 also cooperatingwith each needle and being mounted in the same trick and preferably in front of the corresponding thereon, upon which is clamped a support I02 passing about the entire cylinder and having suitable slots cut radially of the machine at its upper surface for supporting the outer end of sinkers.

Clamps I03 serve to 'cooperate 'with support I02 to hold that latter element in a fixed relationship to cylinder 94 so that it will rotate therewith and will also maintain the sinkers in proper relationship between needles and their outer ends while a stitch ring I04 having corresponding slots. I05

serves to maintain the inner ends of these sinkers in proper alignment.- A fabric support ring I08 is retained within the stitch ring I 04 and serves to hold the fabric against the action of the takeup (not shown) thus relieving the sinkers themselves of the weight of the fabric as it is drawn down by said take-up. This isa very important feature since our sinkers are moved vertically, to f measure stitches and any additional weight at their inner ends would serve to give jacks 96an unnecessarily hard action and cause premature wear on both jacks and sinkers. Ring I06 has elongated holes I01 therein for the purpose of allowing lint to drop through.

In referring to Fig. 14 again, we have showna sinker pressure cam I08 which bears upon the upper surface of the sinker stems to hold them in position between the sinker cams at adjacent cam blocks. These presser cams" I08 overlap is shown attached to a plate .I I0 similar to plate III. This presser cam is designated at I II and is of the general shape of the presser cam shown in Fig. 14, but'has anextension H2 projecting radially which has two screws H3 and I extending upwardly therefrom and projecting through slots in plate I I0. A hooked element H5 is adjustably attached to plate I I0 by means of screws or other suitable'connection. This hooked piece may have slots whereby it may be moved radially so that projection 6 will contact the screw H4 which projects upwardly through a slot and will limit the-movement of the presser cam inwardly. A spring I I1 similar to I09 is used for'the purpose of resiliently holding all the presser cams inwardly against the backs of sinkers.

A modified form of cam block has been shown in Figs. 17-28. The cams of this cam block are adapted to control needles whichare to knit or tuck in accordance with a predetermined selection by jacks which push needles up to latch (if for pushing needles upwardly said needles may be controlled to tuck or not to knit at all. Certain features of either modification may be used with the other and it is not necessary to employ the sinker or jackcams shown withone modification in combination with the particular needle control described relative to said cam block, nor is it necessary to use the cam adjusting mechanism shown with one modification with that particular modification since it may be used with any ca'm block which falls within the general class of cam block herein described.

Referring to Figs. 17-21, a post II. having projecting feet II! with drilled holes therein for purposes of mounting on the base of the knitting machine, has a vertical slot III machined on the inner side thereof; this slot I2. extends through-- out the entire height of the inner side of post I II and. a secondary slot or guideway is formed throughout a portion of its extent by means of flanges I2I, I22 projecting outwardly from machined surfaces which are in a plane with the outer extent of slot III. A U-shaped piece indicated at its lower horizontal portionby numeral I23 and having twoprojections extending upwardly at I 24 and III is attached by suitable bolts or screws to flanges Ill, ill to complete a guideway within which the cross-head i2! is free, to slide in a vertical direction. Cross-head I28 has a projecting part I21 which carries a needle guard cam I20. This guard cam is securely attached to projection I21 and is maintained at proper elevation by means of projecting lip III. A block Ill spaced from projection III by means of a shim Ill carries stitch cam III. The stitch cam is held in proper position relative to block III as it bears at its upper edge against a lip I. To obtain the proper spacing between cams I and I32 the thickness of shim III may be varied. I

The lower horizontal portion I28 of the U shaped member before mentioned, projects out- ..by means ofjacks. Incase'thlscamisinits wardly and acts to support cam I which cam is employed for returning jacks to their lowermost position preparatory to again being selected for operation at the next knitting station. r

Aboss Iliis cast onto the side of post III and has a slot machined therein within which stem I" of. cm Iil is adapted to slide in a direction radiaito the needle cylinder. A set screwill is threaded downthrough the upper portion or boss I" and has a cone shaped end which engages within the slot I to lock cam I" in operative or inoperative position. The set screw Ill engages the V-shaped slot I in a manner to hold stem Ill against the back of its cooperating slot and thus in proper radial position. Cam I" when in operative position serves to raise needles to a tuck-position only, needles which are to actually knit having been raised'to latchclearing Mtion inoperative position, such needles as are not willmerelypassthroughthestitch camsata level 'belowthat atwhichtheymight takeyarn in their hooksandwillnotknitatthatfeed.

ma s a hole drilled am at I;

within which is mounted for rotation a spindle ill enlarged at its outer end to form worm maintaining spindle III in proper axial position.

This plunger I is held inwardly against the I spindle by means 'of a spring I" and an adjusting screw I, in turn held in proper adjustment by a lock nut I". Spindle I has a hole drilled therein at Ill which is-slightly eccentric to the spindle itself, and within this hole is fixedly attached by'means of setscrew I49 a short pin I I. which is turned down at its outer end to fit within a bushing Ill. This bushing is held within a drilled hole in cross-head I26 and it may be'se'en that when spindle Ill is rotated, crosshead Ill will be moved vertically within its guideway for the purpose of adjusting the height oi stitch cams I28, I32 relative to the other stitch drawing instrumentality.

Two ears I52 and I" are cast onto the outside of post III and serve to provide bearings within which a worm screw I54 may rotate. This screw has at one end a knurled thumb wheel I55 by means of which the operator may turn said screw and adjust stitch length by means of cams III, III. The great reduction afforded by the single threaded worm and small eccentricity of pin I" make it possible for the operator to adjust stitch length very accurately. Once stitch cams have been adjusted, they will remain in that position without any locking means since it is impossible for the worm wheel to rotate the single threaded worm which is arranged to .rotate within its bearings under a slight friction. I A nut I" having a hub portion III which serves as a bearing forthat end of the worm, is threaded therethrough and may be locked in proper adjustment by means of set screw'lll.

In Figs. 21-23 a modified form of sinker jack cam is shown, this cam assembly being much simpler than that of the first form and is also adapted to control these sinker jacks more posielement Ill. As shown in plan view in Fig. 22

this element which carries the jack cams is held in position. on surface I It by means of a plate III held in a fixed position by means of screws I02 and spacers I". This plate bears within an annular groove cut in the top surface of element I, the groove and the plate being formed on arcs swung from the center of the needle circle so that any adjustment of the cams will not affect their radial position from the needle circle. A certain amount of metal has been cut away from element I" adjacent spacers I" so that the carrier may be adjusted without interference. Two ears I and Ill project rearwardly and upwardly from the sliding carrier and have adjusting screws I" and I" threaded therein for the purpose of adjusting the carrier and its cams circumferentiallyof the machine, these screws bearing against the sides of a projection m extending upwardly and forming an integral part of post III.

The lower jack cam I" is attached by means of screws Ill to a recessed portion oi carrier Ill. The upper jack cam III is attached'by screws or other suitable connection to the lower cam. This upper cam has a long extension I12 throughout a great part of the distance between adjacent cam blocks.

In Figs. 24-38 a simple and efiective form of sinker cam assembly is shown wherein the's'inker pruser cam is mounted and controlled upon its individual sinker cam assembly. The extension luterminatesatitsupperendinaheadsuitable for mounting the sinker cam assembly. An angular piece having a horizontal portion I13 is attached by means of screws to a plate I14. A pair of adjusting screws I15 serve to maintain the angular member and plate I14 at a proper height, and when this adjustment has been made, screws I16 bearing within slots cut vertically of the upright portion I11 of said angular member, are tightened to secure the entire sinker cam assembly in position on the extension I68. Plate I14 carriesa fixed cam I18 attached by means of suitable connection elements, this cam functioning as a sinker retracting cam. To a pivot I19 fixed to plate I14' is adapted to swing an arm I80 having two slots arranged longitudinally thereof. Sinker projecting cam I8I is adjustably secured to this arm by means of screws passing through the slots and both cam and arm are adapted to be adjusted radial-- ly of, the machine by mechanism hereinafter described.

A cam contacting element I82 having a lip I92 at the upper edge thereof which bears upon'slnker cam I8I has an extension I83 which terminates in a threaded end I84. The threaded end of stem I83 passes through a hole in the vertical portion I11 while the cam contacting piece I82 slides .in a suitable slot in horizontal portion I13. A spring I85 serves to maintain the adjusting mechanism and cam I8I in its innermost position, however, if due to improper operation of sinkers, theycan not be projected in-' wardly, spring I85 provides for cam I8I giving way so that no breakage of sinkers will result. A thumb nut I86 is provided for adjusting the position of cam I 8|, this thumb nut being split as shown at I81 and having a set screw I88 threaded therein for the purpose of locking the same. An elongated hole M9 is out in plate I14 so that cam I9I may beadjusted on its when the assembly is in position on the machine.

Cam I18 projects outwardly from its mounting plate and a screw I99 threaded therein forms a' pivot point for the double ended lever I9I. -A

sinker presser cam I92 is pivoted at I93 at one end of this lever I9I and rides upon the top surface of the sinker stems serving to press sinkers downwardly between cam blocks and'also to resiliently urge them inwardly. Cam I92 has a beveled end which cooperates with a corre-. spondingly beveled surface I94 on the adjacent end of the sinker retracting cam. The opposite end of lever I9I has a spring I95 connected thereto, the opposite end of said spring being attached to an angular projection I 96 on a spring retaining and adjusting element I91. The last mentioned element has a slot I98 cut lengthwise thereof by means of which it is adjustably attached to -plate I14 by screw I99. Element I91 has a turned down edge 200 which maintains it in proper alignment with the corresponding edge of plate I14. By means of this adjustment the tension on spring I95 may be varied, thus varying the force with which the presser cams are urged inwardly against the backs of sinkers.

The cam blocks herein described form complete units which may be attached in any desired number to the base of a multi-ieed knitting machine and in cooperative relationship with the needles, jacks and sinkers thereof and at any time, one or more blocks may be removed or rendered inoperative to knit without affecting the proper knitting of those remaining. In the case of the second modification, cam I81 is retracted and jacks for that feed are not selected to knit. while in the first modification, cam I5 is retracted and the stitch cams are adjusted to a lowermost position so that needles pass idly thru them. The needle tricks, needles, jacks, and sinkers are very accessible since a block or plurality of blocks may be very quickly removed, such accessibility not being at'all possible in the conventional construction wherein a cam ring mounting all the needle cams and a sinker head and cap encompassing the entire complement of sinkers are employed. Such individual units are adapted to cooperate with the cylinder, stitch ring and sinker supporting'ring herein shown, but, of course,may be used with fair equivalents of the same or with other needle and sinker the operator may work to remove-;the broken part and to insert another- Itis not necessary to rotate the machine by hand to a certain opening which has been provided for the purpose as in conventional machines, but merely to rotate the cylinder until the particular needle, jack or sinker enters the nearest space between cam units. The cam blocks herein illustrated and described are used merely as examples of two specific forms which our, invention may take, and it is to be understood that the principles involved are to be broadly construed and that we do not intend to be limited'to the specific mechanism hereindisclosed except by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a multi-feed knitting machine, a series of like cam assemblies including a plurality of cams, the cams of each assembly being adapted to control the movements of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers, each said cam assembly being wholly mounted on a support readily attachable to and detachable from a knitting machine.

2. Forum in amulti-feed knitting machine a readily detachable cam support, cams mounted on the support for controlling the movements of needles, other cam means positioned above the first cam means and attached to the support, said.

second cam means controlling the movements of other knitting instrumentalities.

3. A readily detachable cam support for a knitting machine, cams thereon for controlling the movements of needles and other cams thereon, and positioned above the first mentioned cams, for imparting longitudinal movements to other and cooperating knitting instrumentalities.

4. A readily detachable cam support fora knitting machine, cams thereon for controlling the movements of needles and other cams thereon including jack cams, and positioned above the first mentioned cams, for imparting longitudinal movements to other and cooperating knitting instrumentalities. the jack cams being positioned between the other two sets of cams. I

5. A cam block for knitting machines comprising as a unitary structure, a support, needle cams and sinker cams operatively connected to said support.

6. A cam block for knitting machines comprising as a unitary structure, a support, needle cams, jack cams, and sinker cams operatively attached to said support.

' adjusting meansiorrning a component part 'I. A unitary cam struetm'eior port,sinkercarnsattachedtosaids\mportand means ior adjusting the'po'sition oi' one of 'said' sinkereamswherehytheextenttowhichsinkers aretobeprojectedby'saidcammaybe varied.

0. A cam block-for knitting machines having slidahly mounted therein stitch drawing cams, means ior adjusting said cams. a needle raising cam mounted to slide into and from active and inactive positions. said raising cam having means auociated therewith for locking the same in either oi these pollitiu'ns. j

10. A cam block ior knitting machines comprising a support. guideways in said support, a crom-head vertically slidahle in said guideways and having needle actuating cams secured thereto. mans for adjusting said cross-head and its at tached cams vertically in said guideway comprising a spindle rotatable within said support, eccentric means at one end of said spindle engaging in a suitable hearing within said cross-head.

a worm wheel at the other end oi said spindle and a worm screw operatively associated with said worm wheel whereby the wheel and spindle amass mumteamm warmuum I eams.

ILAcamblockiorknittingmachineseom- -prisingasalmitarystructure,asupport, needle 'imit'ary structure,ineansiorvertioallypoaitioning fsaid-sinheroama'ssemblyuponsaidsupportr sinker'advancim and retracting cams mounted asunitsoisaidassemhlmmeansioradjustingsaid advancingcamsuhstantiallyradiallyoianeedlecirclewithwhichtheoamhlock istobeaasodneedlecylindensinkerseoopu'atingwithsud needlesandhaviugouterenibtulcrumeil1mm:

saidsupportandtheirinnerendsguidedwithin slotsiormedonanextension oisaidneedlecylin- -der, jacks operatively rnoimtedinsaidneedle cylinder for actuating said sinkers whereby they wiIIoooperateinmeasuringstitehesAneomhinationwithacamhloekiormedasaunitarystmescribed. A

ROBIBT H. LAWSON. WILLIAM L BIRTH, Jl. 

